January 24, 2010

Colts Put Emphatic End to Jetsí Surprising Run : The New York Jetsí fairy-tale season ended Sunday in the American Football Conference championship game, finished not so much by bad bounces, or poor play, but by an elite quarterback named Peyton Manning playing near his peak. He threw three touchdown passes in the Coltsí 30-17 victory at the loud, full Lucas Oil Stadium, blanketed in blue. The Indianapolis Colts advanced to the Super Bowl, held two weeks from now in Miami Gardens, Fla., against Minnesota or New Orleans. The Jets, who finished the regular season 9-7 and sneaked into these playoffs, are now 41 seasons removed from their last Super Bowl appearance.

last week i suggested Colt fans could book their flights to miami and a few spofi members acted as if i lost my mind. While Sanchez had a productive game, the defense got absolutly shredded. Just like i said last week, the jets would remember who they were eventually.

A fellow Steeler friend of mine said the Jets reminded him of the Steelers under Cowher (in particular for Big Ben's first year). I let him know that I agreed...that the Jets would be losing in the AFCC just like Cowher always did :-)

That said, their defense is certainly impressive (as is their running game). Too early to tell for me for Sanchez, but he made some quality throws today.

Manning totally shredded the Jets. New York needed another two Darrell Revis's to cover Garcon and Collie. A year ago who would have thought those two would have been such a huge part of the AFC Championship game and getting the Colts to the Super Bowl.

Congrats, SgtCookzane. Your comment that "its just a matter of time before the Jets remember who they really are" was not disproven by a Jets victory. That's quite an accomplishment, picking the big underdog to lose and offering absolutely no analysis to justify your prediction. I hereby christen thee SportsFilter's Nostrildamus.

LOL....I'm glad that your comments of "if they can do it to Rivers they can do it to Manning" looks like you were completely wrong. By trying throwing that last zinger about Nostrildamus crap just shows that you don't like the taste of crow....because after your comments last week, you definatly ate crow.

BTW, I was picking the big underdog to lose.....only because it was an obvious choice.

I didn't think the Jets would win, Captain Obvious. I just didn't share your absolute certainty that the Jets were going to get blown off the field, based on what they'd done the previous two weeks. I've watched Manning too many times against the Jags to pick against him. But the Jets were one of the only teams in the NFL with a secondary good enough to give him trouble.

I think the matchup that decided the game wasn't Manning vs. the Jets defense; it was the Jets running backs vs. the Colts defense. After the Jets went up 17-6, they completely shut them down.

I thought Sanchez was surprisingly good. I was not expecting a rookie QB to be that sharp in a game of this magnitude. They have a bright future in front of them. And, who knows if they don't lose their RB, they might have been able to slow the game down.

To be fair, Shonn Greene was injured on the first play of the second half and didn't return. And Thomas Jones had been injured throughout the playoffs, which probably had something to do with his ineffectiveness.

I still think the better team won.

But I'd like to see a rematch with the Jets at full strength. Among the walking wounded were Bart Scott, David Harris, Kerry Rhodes and Thomas Jones. And Strickland was injured during the game as was Greene.

I could also throw in Leon Washington and Kris Jenkins who both missed half a season. I know that injuries are part fo the game. It's just unfortunate when you're watching players who can only give 60-70% of what they are capable of.

I didn't hear what Sheppard said, but the Jets do need to learn to shut up after a loss.

I just didn't share your absolute certainty that the Jets were going to get blown off the field, based on what they'd done the previous two weeks.

Exactly. I think most of us here thought the Colts would win the game, but as people who watch football, we were hesitant to pound the last nail into the coffin of a team that had already shown themselves capable of surprising a good team. And the "I told you so" bit is more suited to a five year old than an adult. But congratulations, your bold prediction that the heavy favorite #1 seed would beat the #6 seeded underdog will forever guarantee you a place in NFL history.

To be fair, Shonn Greene was injured on the first play of the second half and didn't return.

Yeah, that injury was the one that probably hurt the most. That pretty much killed the running game.

I hope the Jets can stay this good for next year. Anyone important likely to jump ship?

From what I understand, all of the key players are locked up for next year. But I guess there's always the possibility of someone not showing up for training camp hoping to renegotiate a better deal. No names come to mind of who would though.

I keep hearing/reading about how us Jets fans should be excited for next season, but I worry about a sophmore slump for Sanchez. Or is that just a hockey thing?